Expansible jewelry clasp



May 27, 1952 A. PHILIPPE 2,598,597

lEXPANSIBLE JEWELRY CLASP Filed Ju1y-14, 195o l J5 4 'f1-qi.

N @i .uwswamwawm 59 l 1 1 l l l 1 1 Il I Patented May 27, 1952 EXPANSIBLE JEWELRY CLASP Alfred Philippe, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to Trifari, Krussman and Fishel, Inc., a corporationV of NewYork Application July 14, 1950, SerialuNo. 173,755

` A 1f Claim. (Cl. 267-71) This invention relatestol expansiblejewelry clasps-which, though of Vmore general application, are-especially designed for use on ladies Lvnecklaces,- particularlyv those known as chokers or collars.v

As conducive to a clear understandingof vthe invention, it is noted that ladies necklacesof the above type are to t snugly but comfortably about the-neck ofthe wearer-and not slip toward the base of f theneck vand unless such snug t is achieved; the desired effect lof the jewelry collar is lost.

If Vtoachieve such snug fit, the collar iscustom-made, it will be relatively expensivel and where alarge stock of collars-of ldifferent sizes are kepton; hand to -iit the purchaser, the costy of such stock' maybe prohibitive,- especially to thesmall retailer.

Even if a collar should be lpurchased that snugly fits the-neck,- iffthere is no extensibility afforded inthe length of the collar, it would `be difcult for the wearer to breathe or swallow' and such collar would-be extremely uncomfortable.

It is laccordingly -among vthe objects of the inventionto provide anexpansibleclasp which-may readily be incorporated in a jewelryl collar, and which claspwhen fastenedtoretain such collar about the neck -of the wearer, will snugly hold such collar inI place, yet will automatically adjust its length to compensategforslight departurel of the neck circumferences from the size of the collar andalso to compensatefor variationsin neck circurnierencesl caused by breathing and swallowing, which-clasp is lightinweight, relatively small in size, dependable in action and has but few relatively inexpensive parts that may readily be assembled and are not likely to become deranged.4

Ingthe accompanying drawings in which are shown onev orvvmore of various possiblevembodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. lis a fragmentary plan View of a jewelry collar incorporating one embodiment ofthe clasp,

Fig. 2 is a plan view on-a larger scale, partly in cross section with parts brokenaway, of one offthefastenerelementsof the clasp shown in Fig; I,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig..2,

Fig. 4'is a transverse sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig.-2,

Figj. 5 is-a perspective, exploded View of one of the fastener elements,

Fig.- 6 isaview similar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the clasp,

Fig. 'I isa longitudinal sectional view taken along line 1 1 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig.- Gand,

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the fastener element of Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1l is shown one embodiment of the clasp Il, incorporated in a jewelry collar I2 of the type illustratively-having a plurality of parallel strands I3.

The clasp I! desirably has twov identical fastener elements I4 and l5 which maybe connected together by a conventional hooking link I6.

As shown inv Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, the fastener element I5 desirably comprises a casing2 l, which, thoughit could be made in any suitable manner, desirably comprises a substantially U-shaped base piece 22 preferably a unitary stamping, having parallel side legs 23 and 24` and a cross piece 25 joiningadjacent ends of said legs, said cross piece desirably having an upstanding iiange 26 along the inner edgethereof between legs 23 and24.

The outer-edges and thefree ends of legs 23 and 24 desirably-.have upstandingwalls 21 and 28l respectivelypreferably formed integral therewith and the cross piece 25 desirablyhas a pair of rearwardly extending tonguesk 29, longitudinally alignedy respectively with said legs 23 and 24.

Positioned on the upper edges of walls 21 and 28' and affixed thereon as by welding or soldering is a substantially U-shaped cover member 3| which may carry suitable decorations such as diamonds, rhinestones or the like thereon and which` desirably has. a transverse connector bar 32 across the legs 33 and 34 thereof adjacent the free ends of legs 23and 24, the bar 32` of one of said fastener elements serving as the pivot for the-hooking link I6 which may engage the bar 32 on the other of said fastener elements to retain the two fastener elements I4. andl together.

With the cover member 3| mounted on theY base piece 22, a channel will be defined longitudinally of each of said legs 23 and 24 in which a slide member-31 may be positioned through the slot 40 in the end of the casing.

As shown in Fig. 5, the slide member 31 is also desirably substantially U-shaped, having parallel legs 3B and 39- and a cross piece 4I connecting the end of said legs and preferably formed integral therewith. Each of the longitudinal edges of said legs as well as each of the free ends thereof has a. depending wall 42 and 43 respectively which dei-lne a longitudinal pocket on each of said .legs 38l and 39.

In assembling the clasp Il, it is merelynecessary to position the legs 38 and 39 of slide member 31 in the associated channels in the casing 2| as shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. A coil spring 44 is then positioned in each of the pockets between the side walls 42 of legs 38 and 39 and retained therein by bending upwandly the tongues 29 which will extend respectively into each of said pockets.

The coil springs are of such length that they will be only slightly compressed between the associated tongues 29 rigid with the housing and the end walls 43 of the pockets of the slide member 31 and will normally urge said slide member into the casing.

The assembly of the collar shown in Figs. l to may then be completed by fastening the ends of each of the strands I3 to the eyes 45 formed on the cross piece 4l of the slide members 31.

In the embodiment of the clasp shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive which is especially designed for use with a single-strand necklace, the clasp also desirably has two fastener elements 5l and 52 which also are identical.

As shown in Figs. '1 and 9, the fastener element 5l desirably comprises a casing 53 which may have a substantially rectangular base piece 54 having upstanding walls 55 along the longitudinal edges and 56 along one of the ends thereof, the other end of said base piece 54 having a tongue 51 projecting rearwardly midway between its sides. The base piece also desirably has a substantially rectangular opening 59 midway between side walls 55 with an upstanding tongue 58 on the inner edge of said opening. End Vwall 56 serves to hold a conventional hooking link 6l which, as shown in Fig. '1, extends through opening 59.

Positioned on the upper edges of walls 55 and 56 and `ai'lxed thereon as by welding or soldering is a cover member 63 which, as shown in Fig. 8, has spaced longitudinal ribs 64 on the undersurface thereof forming shoulders 60 along the outer edges thereof which rest on said upper edges and defining a longitudinal groove 65 therebetween. As shown in Fig.r8 the undersurfaces of the ribs are slightly spaced from the base piece 54 defining a pair of spaced parallel passageways 61. The cover member 63 desirably has a substantially rectangular cut out 66 at one end thereof which may be aligned with the opening 59 in base piece 54 to permit insertion of the hooking link 6 l With the cover member 63 afdxed upon the base piece 54, the groove 65 and the longitudinal passageways 61 will provide a channel in which a slide member 68 may be positioned.

The slide member 68 is desirably substantially rectangular in shape having a longitudinal median depression 99 in the underface thereof with laterally extending wings 1l, said depression having a wall 12 at one end thereof and defining a'pocket in which a coil spring 13 may be positioned.

' In assembling the clasp shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, it is merely necessary to position the slide member 68 in the casing 53 with the wings 1l in the associated passageways 61 and with the depression 69Yin the groove 65. The coil spring 13 is then positioned in the pocket formed by groove 65 and is retained therein by bending upwardly the tongue 51 which will extend into said pocket.

As'the coil spring 13 will be but slightly compressed between tongue 51 rigid with the housing and end wall 12 of the slide member 68, thelat- 4 ter will normally be urged into the casing, its inward movement being restrained by tongue 58 which functions as a stop.

The assembly of the single strand collar may then be completed by fastening the ends of the strand tothe eyes 15 formed in the outer end of slide member 68.

In the embodiment of the clasp shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, each of the coil springs 44 will be contained in a closed chamber dened by the side walls 42 and end walls 43 of slide member 31 and legs 23 and 24 and tongues 29 of the casing.

Similarly in the embodiment of the clasp shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the spring 13 will also be contained in a closed chamber dened by the depression 65 and end wall 12 of the slide member 15 and by the baseV piece 54 and tongue 51 of the casing.

In both embodiments herein shown, the associated chamber will vary in size depending upon the position of the slide member with respect to the casing and the coil springs will be securely retained in place without likelihood of dislodgment and as the springs are enclosed regardless of the position of the slide members they are not likely to collect dirt or to catch on the skin of the wearer with resultant discomfort to the latter.

In using a collar having a clasp constructed according to either of the embodiments herein described the wearer need merely position such collar around her neck and connect the two fastener elements together by means of the conventional link.

If the uneXpanded length of the encompassing collar should be slightly less than required fora snug yet comfortable i'lt, the slide member will move out of the casing against the resistance of the coil springs and automatically adjust the collar length to the proper size. Thus the collar will be retained around the neck without sliding from the desired position thereon.

By reason of the expansible nature of the clasp, the wearer may swallow and breathe without feeling any constriction, as the slide member will move in and out of the casing to compensate for slight variations in neck circumference.

With the expansible clasp construction above described, it is only necessary to have a stock of collars on hand sized approximately every half inch, which considerably reduces the number of collars that would otherwise be required to i'lt every wearer, and as the clasp constructed according to the present invention may be relatively small in size, when attached to a collar, it will not detract from the desired overall appearance of the article. f

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claim, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An expansible clasp comprising a casing having a base piece and a cover piece afxed at their lateral edges, said cover piece having spaced parallel longitudinal ribs defining a groove therebetween with the unde-rsurface of said ribs being spaced from said base piece defining a longitudinal passageway on each side of said -fgroova said passageways and said groove defining a channel, a tongue rigid with said base piece and extending upwardly into said groove at the outer end thereof, a slide member in said channel, said slide member having a longitudinal median depression with a wall at the inner end thereof and open at the outer end thereof, and having lateral wings on each side of said depression, said depression being positioned in said groove and said wings in the respective passageways, a coil spring in said depression, said spring normally being slightly compressed between the end Wall of said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,690,498 Nelson Nov. 6, 1928 2,444,028 Bliss June 29, 1948 2,499,077

Roysher Feb. 28, 1950 

